Sheet metal seaming machine



Aug. 29, 1939. ZAHNER ET AL 2,171,297

SHEET METAL SEAMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7M2. attorney 3nventor$ SHEET METAL SEAMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 attorney Patented Aug. 29, 1939 2,171,297

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET METAL SEAMING MACHINE Andrew Zahner and. Leo W. Zahner, Kansas City, Mo.

Application September 16, 1937, Serial No. 164,169

8 Claims. (61. 1l3-55) Our invention relates to improvements in sheet two front seam forming wheels engaging the metal seaming machines, particularly well adaptsingle seamed flanges and bending the latter ed for double seaming together the edges of metal laterally. roofing sheets. Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevation of the inter- One object of our invention is the provision of mediate seam forming wheel bending the flanges 5 a novel machine of the kind described which has downwardly from their position as shown. in Fig. novel power operated means for bending the 9, the flanges being shown in cross section. edges of side by side flanges of the metal sheets Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the to first form a single seam, and then to form two rear seam forming wheels completing the therefrom a double seam. double seam. 10

Another object of our invention is the provision Fig. 12 is a reduced front elevation of the upper of a novel machine of the kind described which part of one end of the adjustable frame and one may be made to travel in one direction to form of the lifting handles carried thereon.

a single seam, and then backed in the opposite Similar characters of reference designate simi- 15 direction to form the double seam, or which may lar parts in the different views. 15 be operated with one end as the front end in. the The machine is provided with a traveling carforming of both the single and double seams conrier comprising as shown. a horizontal rectangular secutively. frame I, preferably composed of angle iron, and

Still another object of our invention is the prosupported by four carrying wheels 2 adapted to vision of a machine of the kind described, which travel on sheet metal roofing sheets 3 and 4, 20 is simple, strong, durable, not likely to get out of having respectively side by side flanges 5 and 6 order, which is economical in operation, will perof difierent height adapted to be seamed toform its work rapidly, and which is eflicient in its gether by the machine, the flange 6 being the operation. higher one. The novel features of our invention are herein- Affixed respectively to opposite ends of the 25 after fully described and claimed. frame I are two guiding wheels I and 8, which In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate are adapted to travel on the sheet 4 closely adthe preferred embodiment of our invention; jacent to the flange 6. Attached to the end of Fig. l is an elevation looking at one side of our the frame I to which is afiixed the guiding wheel improved machine, parts being broken away, 8 is a cable 9 by which the machine may be 30 showing the supporting means for the seam formdrawn upwardly after having traveled downing means in the initial higher position, the seam wardly in a seaming operation on a roof.

forming means being shown operatively engag- In the seaming together of the flanges 5 and 6, ing the flanges in. forming a single seam. the upper protruding part of the flange 6 is first Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the machine with the bent laterally over the flange 5, as shown in. Fig. 35 parts disposed as in Fig. 1. 6. The bent portion In is then bent downwardly Fig. 3 is a top view of the machine, with the to an inclined position, as in Fig. '7, after which parts disposed as shown in Fig. 1. the bent portion II] is bent against the flange 5 Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1, to. form the single seam. The seamed flanges:

40 with parts broken away. are then bent laterally and upwardly, as shown 40 Fig. 5 is an elevation, parts being broken. away, in Fig. 9, then downwardly to an inclined posilooking at the side opposite to that shown in Fig. tion, as shown in Fig. 10, and finally against the 1, and with the adjustable supporting means in flange 5 to form the double seam.

the lower position, and the seam forming means For effecting the diiferent seaming operations engaging the single seamed flanges in the formajust described, the following described mecha- 45 tion of a double seam. nism is provided.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 Vertically adjustable supporting means is proof Fig. 1. vided consisting of two vertical end members ll Fig. '7 is an enlarged section on the line 'l---'! of and I2 integral respectively with the ends of a Fig. 1. longitudinal horizontal member [3 disposed in 5 Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of the two rear an elevated position spaced from the lower ends seam forming wheels shown closing the single of the members II and 12, which are disposed seam, the metal sheets being shown in cross secbetween the longitudinal sides of the frame I tion. between which the supporting means is adjustable Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the vertically and longitudinally horizontally. 55

For supporting the adjustable frame, comprising the members I I, I2 and I3, the lower ends of the vertical end members I I and I2 have depending side edge arms I4, each having projecting laterally therefrom a horizontal supporting pin I5. The pins I5 respectively extend through and are slidable in four forwardly and upwardly inclined parallel slots I6, two of which are provided in each longitudinal side of the carrier frame I, Figs. 1 and 5, respectively adjacent to the ends of the carrier frame I.

The adjustable supporting frame II, I2 and I3 is retained in the initial higher position shown in Fig. 1 by two screws I1, respectively rotatably fitted in threaded holes in the end of the frame I to which are attached the cable 9 and the guiding wheel 8, which screws II respectively abut at their forward ends against the adjacent ends of two longitudinal horizontal plates I8 and I9, Fig. 2, disposed edge to edge and fastened to the under sides of themembers II and I2 by bolts 20. .The bolts 20 which extend through the plate I8 are respectively extended through transverse slots. 2|, Fig. 2, whereby the plate I8 can slide laterally edgewise; a short distance, toward and from the plate I9, to accommodate the seaming means to different thickness of sheet metal plates that are being seamed, as will be afterwards explained.

By adjusting the screws I'I rearwardly, the weight of the supporting frame II, I2 and I3 and the parts carried thereby will cause the supporting frame to slide downwardly and rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, which is the double seaming position, the parts as shown in Fig. 1 being the single seam forming position. Screwing the screws I'I forwardly will force the supporting frame forwardly and upwardly to the higher single seaming position, shown in'Fig. 1.

For normally yieldingly forcing the plate I8 to ward the plate I9, two bolts 22 extend transversely through the plates I8 and I9, Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the heads of the bolts bearing against the outer longitudinal edge of the plate I8. Encircling the other ends respectively of the bolts 22 are two coiled compression springs 23, one set of ends of which bear against the outer longitudinal edge of the plate III, the other set of ends bearing,

respectively againsttwo washers 24 on the bolts 22, said washers respectively bearing against the nuts 25 mounted on the bolts 22. The tension of the springs 23 normally draws the plate I8 toward the plate I9. I 1

.The following described seaming means carried by the vertically adjustableframe I I, I2, and I3 is provided.

Rotatably mounted at their upper ends in the member I3 of the supporting frame are two Vertical shafts 26 which extend downwardly through the plate III and have respectively fastened to them circular disks or forming wheels 21, which are respectively adjacent to and cooperate with two forming wheels 28, respectively fastened to two vertical rotary shafts 29, which extend upwardly through the plate l8 and are rotatably mounted at their upper ends in the member I3, Figs. 1,.2, 4, 5 and 6.

The forming wheels 28 have upwardly and outwardly beveled portions 30 which respectively extendiaterally over the peripheries of the forming wheels 27, each of which is adapted to engage and bend laterally the portion) of the flange 6, as shown in Fig. 6, when such of the two wheels is in advance and the carrier frame I is operatively moved. In such case the other set of forming wheels 21 and 28 is engaged in closing the single seam, as in Fig. 8, after the bent portion II] has been bent downwardly from the inclined position, shown in Fig. 6 to the downwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 7.

For turning down the upper portion Iii of the flange 6 from the upwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 6, an intermediate peripherally grooved forming Wheel 3| is rotatably mounted on a short transverse horizontal bar or shaft 32 mounted at its ends in transverse alined holes 33 provided in the inner longitudinal edges of the plates I8 and [9, Fig. '7. The shaft 32 and forming wheel 3! are located midway between the two sets of forming wheels 2? and 28. The peripheral groove 36 provided in the forming wheel 3| is provided with an outwardly inclined circular wall 35 which in operation is disposed at the side of the flanges 5 and 6, as to be adapted to engage the upwardly inclined portion III, and bend it downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 7, after which the following set of wheels 2! and 28 engage the bent portion It and forces it against the flange 5 so as to close the single seam, as shown in Fig. 8.

Respectively fastened to the shafts 26 above the plate .I 9 are two spur gear wheels 35 which respectively mesh with two spur gear wheels 3! secured to the shafts 29, Figs. 4 and 6. For revolving the shafts 26 simultaneously in the same direction, said shafts have respectively fastened on them two sprocket wheels 33, Figs. 1, 4 and 5, connected by a chain belt 3%, which also engages with a sprocket wheel it fastened on a vertical shaft 4i below the member I3 through which the shaft 4i extends. For rotating the shaft AI it has fastened to it above the member I3 a bevel gear wheel 42 which meshes with two bevel gear wheels I3 and M, which are rotatable on a longitudinal shaft 55, rotatably mounted in two bearings 46 mounted on the member IS.

The shaft extends through the end member II and has fastened on .it a spur gear wheel 4'! which meshes with a smaller spur gear wheel 48, which is fastened on a longitudinal armature shaft 49 of an electric motor 59 mounted on the member I3.

It will be obvious that any usual type of motor or engine, as a gasoline motor, could be substituted for the electric motor 50, for driving the shaft 49.

To enable the shaft 45 rotating selectively the bevel gear wheels 43 and MI, so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft II, and that of the shafts 26, a clutch is provided, which consists of a sleeve 5|, Figs. 1 and 3 splined to and longitudinally slidable on the shaft 35. The sleeve 5| is provided in its end respectively with two recesses 52 and 53 adapted to respectively receive selectively two studs 54 andfl55 with which the adjacent ends of the bevel gear wheels 33 and 44 are provided. 7

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3,-the stud 55 of the gear 44 is in the recess 53- of thesleeve 5!. In such position ofthe parts, if the shaft lfi is rotated by the motor in the, direction indicated by the adjacent arrow in Fig. l, the chain belt 39 will be driven in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrowin Fig. 1, which will be the proper direction for it to travel, when the machine travels to the left, as shown in Fig. 1.

Such direction of drive will cause the forming wheels 21 and 23 of each set will travel in opposite directions and will have proper traveling engagement with the flanges 5 and v6, when the left end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, is the front end.

In case it is desired to have the machine oper-- ated with the other end as the front end, that is the right end, as viewed in Fig. 1, means are provided for shifting the sleeve 5| so that it will have driving engagement with the gear wheel 43, such means consisting of a hand lever 56 pivoted on a pin 51 mounted in and extending upwardly from the member l3, Fig. 3. The lever 56 has in it a pin 58 disposed in a peripheral groove 59 in the sleeve 5|, by which the sleeve is shifted into either of its two operative positions.

When the lever 56 is swung tomove the sleeve 5| to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, into engagement with the gear wheel 33, the latter will be rotated by the sleeve, and will drive the gear 42 in a direction the reverse that in which it was driven by the gear wheel 44, thereby reversing the rotation of the shafts 4| and 26 and the forming wheels 2? and 28, so that the latter will have proper traveling engagement with the flanges 5 and 6, when the machine travels to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the member I2 is at the front.

In Figs. 1 and 5, the member is at the front, and the lever 55 is then positioned, as shown in Fig. 3, with the gear M operatively engaged with 'the sleeve 5|.

For lifting the machine, four bars 60 are respectively fastened to the vertical edges of the members II and i3, and extend upwardly from said members, as shown in Figs. 1 and 12. A cylindrical transverse bar 6| is fastened at its ends to and between the bars 50 attached to the member H, and a. similar bar 6| is similarly fastened to and between the bars 60 attached to the member I2. The bars 6| serve as handles by which the machine may be lifted and carried.

An easy way of operating the machine is to dispose it on. a roof with the parts disposed, as in Fig. 1, with the member H at the front, and let the machine travel down the roof by gravity, it being held back to a proper rate of travel by the cable 9.

The front guiding wheel 1 and the rear guiding wheel 8 are disposed closely adjacent to the flange 5 at the side opposite that to which the upper part ill of the flange 6 is to be bent.

As the machine travels downwardly the bevelled portion 30 of the front forming wheel 28 bends the upper part ll] of 'the flange laterally over the flange 5, as shown in Fig. 6.

As the machine progresses, the inclined wall 35 of the intermediate forming wheel 3|, bends the part i5 downwardly to the position, shown in Fig. '7. The rear wheels 2! and 28 then fold the part Ii] against the flange 5, thus closing the single seam, as shown in Fig. 8.

The machine is then drawn upwardly by the cable 9 to the initial position, and the screws H are rearwardly adjusted to permit the supporting frame H, i2 and i3 to lower by gravity to the lower rear position, shown in Fig. 5.

The machine is then positioned to engage the single seam which has just been formed disposed between the front forming wheels 21 and 28. When the machine travels downwardly, the front wheels 21 and 28 will bend laterally, as shown in Fig. 9, the upper portions of the flanges 5 and 6. As the machine progresses, the intermediate wheel 3| will bend the flanges 5 and 6 downwardly, as shown in Fig. 10, following which the rear forming wheels 21 and 28'will close and form the double seam, as shown in Fig. 11, and in Fig. 5.

If desired, after the single seam has been formed, as described, the machine may be drawn upwardly by the cable 9 to form the double seam, by backing up the machine. In such case, the lever 56 is swung to engage the sleeve 5| with the gear 43, thus reversing, as has been described, the direction of rotation of the forming wheels 2'! and 28, so that they have proper traveling engagement with the flanges 5 and 6. After the double seam has been formed, the supporting frame is adjusted to the higher position, as has been described, and the lever 56-is swung to reengage the sleeve 5| with the gear 44, following which another single seam is formed, in the manner described.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, for guiding the upwardly inclined portion ID of the flange 6 against the inclined wall 35 of the wheel 3|, two guiding rollers 62, of like diameter and with longitudinally alined axes, are rotatably mounted on two plates 63 fastened to the under side of the plate l9, the peripheries of said rollers being substantially in longitudinal alinement with the inner edge of the inclined wall 35 of the intermediate forming wheel 3|, the rollers being disposed respectively at the front and rear of the wheel 3|.

As the flanges 5 and 6 enter between the forming wheels 21 and 28, they push the wheels apart, and force the plate i8 away from the plate I9 against the tension of the springs 23. The springs 23 permit the forming rollers to be relatively properly positioned with different thicknesses of metal plate that is to he seamed.

By having the wheels 21 and 2.8 of one pair corresponding in shape and relative disposition to each other to the wheels 21 and 28 of the other pair, the carrier may be operated in reverse directions without being reversed, thus affording a saving in time and labor.

To enable the wheels 27 and 23 being reversed in rotation to adapt them to the carrier being operated in such reverse directions, without being reversed end to end, the reversing mechanism hereinbefore described is provided.

While the screws I"! are provided for releasably holding the vertically adjustable frame in the upper position, when making a single seam, the weight of said frame and the motor and parts; carried thereby, combined with the inclination or slant given the slots i6, serve to retain the frame in the lowered position, shown in Fig. 5, when the carrier is either drawn upwardly or let downwardly on a slanting roof to make a double seam. Furthermore, the front wheel 2? engaging the underside of the seam it, Fig. 9, holds the frame down in the slots l5, even on relatively steep roofs. Of course, the machine need not be used on roofs having a pitch such that would reverse the inclination ofthe slots i5.

Many modifications of our invention, within 1 wheels for engaging and bending downwardly said bent part, and two rotary wheels on said supporting means at the rear of. said last named means adapted to engage said bent flange at opposite sides of said flanges and bend said bent part against the other flange to form a single seam, said two rear wheels corresponding in shape and relative disposition to each other to said two first named wheels respectively, whereby said carrier may be operated in reverse directions without being reversed.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, a carrier adapted for travel parallel with two side by side flanges of diiferent height, of two roofing sheets, supporting means on said carrier, two rotary wheels on said supporting means adapted to embrace and have traveling engagement with opposite sides of said flanges, said wheel engaging the higher of said flanges having means, when said carrier travels parallel with said flanges, for bending the upper part of the higher flange laterally over the other flange, an intermediate rotary wheel on said supporting means at the rear of said two wheels having means for engaging and bending downwardly said bent part, and two rotary wheels on said supporting means at the rear of said intermediate wheel adapted to embrace opposite sides of said flanges, one of said last named wheels having means for engaging said bent part and folding it downwardly and against the other flange to form a single seam, said two rear wheels corresponding in shape and relative disposition to each other to said two first named wheels respectively, whereby said carrier may be operated in reverse directions without being reversed.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a carrier adapted for travel parallel with two side by side flanges of different height, of two roofing sheets, supporting means adjustable on said ,carrier from a higher initial position to a lower position, two rotary wheels on said supporting means adapted to embrace and have traveling engagement with opposite sides of said flanges, said wheel having engagement with the higher ,of said flanges, when said carrier travels parallel "with said flanges, and said supporting means is in said initial higher position, engaging and bending laterally the upper part of said higher flange, intermediate means on said supporting ,means at the rear of said two wheels engaging and bending downwardly said bent portion, and two rotary wheels on said supporting means at the rear of said intermediate means adapted to embrace opposite sides of said flanges, one of 60 521,101 last named wheels having means for enbeing adapted to embrace said seamed flanges position and said carrier travels parallel with gaging said bent part and folding it downwardly against the other flange, when in said initial position, to form a single seam, said first named two wheels, when in said lower position, and said carrier travels parallel with said flanges,

and bend them laterally, ,said intermediate means, when in said lower position, being adapted to engage and bend downwardly said bent flanges, said rear two wheels, when in said lower said flanges, being adapted to embrace and bend said bent flanges against each other to form a double seam, said two rear wheels correspond- .ing in shape and relative disposition to each other to said two first named wheels respectively, whereby said carrier may be operated in reverse directions without being reversed.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, a carrieradapted for travel parallel with two side by side flanges of diiferent height, of two roofing sheets, supporting means on said carrier adjustable from a higher initial position to a lower position, two front rotary wheels on said supporting means, two rear rotary wheels on said supporting means, a rotary wheel on said supporting means intermediate of said two pairs of wheels, said front wheels in said higher initial position being adapted to engage and bend laterally over the other flange the upper part of the higher flange, when said carrier travels parallel with said flanges, said intermediate wheel being adapted to engage and bend downwardly said bent part, and said rear wheels being adapted to embrace opposite sides of said flanges and, in said initial position bend said bent part against the other flange to form a single seam, said front wheels in said lower position being adapted to embrace said seamed flanges and bend them laterally, said intermediate wheel in said lower position being adapted to engage and bend downwardly said bent flanges, said rear wheels in said lower position, being adapted to embrace and bend said bent flanges to form a double and means for oppositely rotating the wheels of each of said pairs in directions such that they will have each forward traveling engagement with the flanges which they respectively engage, said two rear wheels corresponding in shape and relative disposition to each other to said two first named wheels respectively, whereby said carrier may be operated in reverse directions without being reversed.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a carrier adapted for travel parallel with two side by side flanges of different height, of two roofing sheets, supporting means on said carrier, two front rotary wheels on said supporting means, two rear rotary wheels on said supporting means, a rotary wheel on said supporting means intermediate of said two pairs of wheels, said front wheels being adapted, when said carrier travels parallel with said flanges, to embrace opposite sides of said flanges and to bend laterally the upper part of said higher flange over the lower flange, said intermediate wheel being adapted to engage and bend downwardly said bent part, said rear wheels being adapted to embrace said flanges and bend said bent part against the other flange to form a single seam, and means for oppositely rotating the wheels of each of said pairs in directions such that they will each have forward traveling engagement with the flanges which they respectively engage, said two rear wheels corresponding in shape and relative disposition to each other tosaid two first named wheels respectively, whereby said carrier may be operated in reverse directions without being reversed.

6. Inv an apparatus of the kind described, a carrier adapted for travel forwardly and backwardly parallel with two side by side flanges of different height, of two roofing sheets, supporting means on said carrier, two rotary front wheels on said supporting means, two rear rotary wheels on said supporting means corresponding in shape and relative disposition to each other to said two front wheels respectively, a rotary wheel on said supporting means intermediate of said two pairs of wheels, said front wheels having means by which, when said carrier travels parallel with said flanges they embrace and have traveling engagement with opposite sides of said flanges and bend laterally the upper part of said higher flange over the other flange, said intermediate wheel having means for engaging and bending downwardly said bent part, said rear wheels having means by which they embrace and have traveling engagement with said flanges and bend said bent part against the other flange to form a single seam, means for oppositely rotating the wheels of each pair, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said rotating means, whereby either end of said carrier may be the front end.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, a carrier adapted for travel parallel with two side by side flanges, of diifer-ent height, of two roofing sheets, said carrier being adapted for travel in reverse directions without being reversed, two longitudinally alined flange iolding means on said carrier, each of which when it is at the front being adapted to engage and bend the upper part of the higher flange laterally over the other flange, and means intermediate of said two flange folding means for engaging and bending downwardly said bent part, each of said two flange folding means when it is at the rear being adapt ed to engage said downwardly bent part and bend it against said other flange to form a single seam.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, a carrier adapted for travel parallel with two side by side flanges, of different height, of two roofing sheets, said carrier being adapted for travel in reverse directions without being reversed, supporting means on said carrier adjustable from a higher position to a lower position, two longitudinally alined flange folding means on said supporting means, each of which when it is at the front and said supporting means is in said upper position being adapted to engage and bend the upper part of the higher flange laterally over the other flange, and means carried by said supporting means intermediate of said two flange forming means for engaging and bending downwardly the part bent laterally by said front flange folding means, each of said two flange folding means when it is at the rear and said supporting means is in said upper position being adapted to engage and bend said downwardly bent part against the other flange to form a single seam, each of said two flange folding means when it is at the front and said supporting means is in said lower position being adapted to engage and bend laterally said seamed flanges, said intermediate means, when said supporting means is in said lower position being adapted to engage and bend downwardly said laterally bent seamed flanges, each of said two flange folding means, when at the rear, and said supporting means is in said lower position, being adapted to engage and bend said downwardly bent seamed flanges against said other flange to form a double seam.

ANDREW ZAHNER. LEO W. ZAHNER. 

